This is Matt Lutz of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 7:30 am.

 Blaine County Search and Rescue & the Friends of the Sawtooth
 Avalanche Center bring you this advisory.

 Bottom Line:
 The avalanche danger in the South and Central Valley is estimated to
 be CONSIDERABLE. The series of storms over the last 5 days has
 added approximately 18 inches of new snow to what was a very thin and
 weak snowpack. The snowpack in these areas is slowly adjusting to the
 new load but is still unstable in many locations. Human triggered
 avalanches are probable on steep or wind loaded slopes.

 The avalanche danger in the North Valley and Sawtooth Mountains is
 estimated to be MODERATE. The North Valley and Sawtooth Mountains
 have received approximately 3 feet of new snow. These areas had a
 generally deeper and stronger snowpack prior to this last storm and
 consequently the snowpack has been better able to adjust to the new
 load. Human triggered avalanches are still possible on steep rocky or
 wind loaded terrain or in areas where the new snow is sitting on
 sugary weak old snow.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 In the South and Central Valley the deeper layers of the snowpack are
 very weak and are having a difficult time fully adjusting to the new
 snow load. This is especially true below 8500 feet. Due to the very
 weak nature of the bottom layers of the snowpack unstable conditions
 will likely linger for some time in the South and Central Valley.

 Areas of particular concern are wind loaded slopes and slopes over 35
 degrees.

 Yesterday I observed two predominate and wide spread shear layers
 around Bald Mountain. The first and most significant shear is within
 the very weak sugary snow approximately 2 feet down. The second is a
 graupel layer that was laid down on Friday within the storm snow.

 Additionally I observed evidence of numerous large natural and human
 triggered avalanches that had been triggered over the weekend.

 In the North Valley and Sawtooth Mountains there is a deeper and
 generally stronger snowpack, although weak faceted snow is still
 present in some locations and remains a concern. Areas of particular
 concern include high alpine terrain, steep rocky terrain and areas
 that had thin and variable snow cover prior to this last storm.

 Although the likelihood of a human triggered avalanche is lower in the
 North Valley and Sawtooth Mountains than in the southern terrain, if a
 slide does happen it will likely be large and destructive.

 Secondary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 Today the forecast is calling for moderate winds. Currently the Titus
 and Soldier weather stations are showing increasing winds with
 moderate to strong gusts. The low density snow received over the last
 24 hours will be easily transported by todays wind. If the wind
 continues, wind slabs will likely form on exposed slopes and
 ridgelines. The winds are primarily out of the west, so look for newly
 formed wind pillows on southeast, east and northeast facing terrain.

 Current Conditions:
 Ketchum is under partly cloudy skies this morning with a temperature
 of 12 degrees. Ridge top winds are light out of the west with
 occasional moderate gusts. Ridge top temperatures are in the low
 teens.

 Nice soft snow riding conditions can be found in most locations, get
 out there and get it!

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 Winds are expected to be locally breezy as an upper level storm system
 moves through our forecast area today. Today expect partly cloudy to
 mostly cloudy skies with occasional snow shower. Higher elevation
 terrain may see another 1 to 3 inches of snow through the day.

 Ridgeline high temperatures will likely be in the mid teens. Another
 storm is expected to roll in by Thursday morning and potentially bring
 another 4 to 6 inches of new snow to the Central Mountains of Idaho.

 Tip for the day:
 Don't travel alone in avalanche terrain.